אֹבֹת
𐤀𐤁𐤕
Ovot
H88 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
(1) Water-skins—flexible containers used for storing and transporting water, typically made from animal hide; (2) Oboth—a place name, designating a specific campsite or location encountered by the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness (Numbers 21:10–11, 33:43–44). The primary meaning in general Semitic usage points to objects for holding water, while the proper noun sense is specific to the biblical narrative.
Semantic Range
water-skins, animal hide containers for water; Oboth (a desert stop or location); possibly associated with a watering-place or oasis
Root / Etymology
From the root אוֹב (ʼôb), which typically refers to a 'water-skin' or 'skin-bottle,' an ancient vessel made of animal hide used for carrying liquids; in other contexts, אוֹב more commonly denotes 'spirit-medium' or 'necromancer,' but in this plural form and specific usage, it refers to water-skins or is used as a toponym. The derivation for the place name Oboth as related to this root is etymologically plausible, perhaps indicating a location associated with water-skins (such as a watering stop), but ultimately remains uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, the plural form אֹבֹת occurs primarily as a place name (Oboth), one of the way-stations mentioned in the wilderness journey narratives of Numbers. As a common noun, the plural of oub refers to 'water-skins' or flexible containers for water—a vital commodity for desert travel. The connection between the two senses (container vs. toponym) likely lies in the association of the place as a water source or stopover. The use of the plural suggests either abundance (multiple water-skins or wells) or a toponymic application derived from the object's name. The singular oub ('skin-bottle') has an entirely different and unrelated sense elsewhere in Hebrew (referring to necromancy practices), but in this context, the meaning is tied to physical water containers or a corresponding place. The common English translation 'Oboth' simply transliterates the Hebrew place name and does not capture the concrete lexical link to water-skins. There is no evidence that the inhabitants of this place were ethnically distinct or that the word has religious connotation in biblical usage. Distinction must be maintained from the later use of the term 'ôb' in contexts of spirit mediums, which is a homograph.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of אוֹב; water-skins; Oboth, a place in the Desert; Oboth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אוב (ʾ-w-b) — water-skin, skin-bottle, container for liquid
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H178 | אוֹב | in the necromantic vessel |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H88-02 |
מֵ/אֹבֹ֑ת | meovot | HR/Np |
from Oboth | from Oboth | 2 |
H88-01 |
בְּ/אֹבֹֽת | beovot | HR/Np |
at Oboth | in Water-skins | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H88-01 |
Numbers 21:10 | בְּ/אֹבֹֽת | beovot | HR/Np |
at Oboth | in Water-skins |
H88-02 |
Numbers 21:11 | מֵ/אֹבֹ֑ת | meovot | HR/Np |
from Oboth | from Oboth |
H88-01 |
Numbers 33:43 | בְּ/אֹבֹֽת | beovot | HR/Np |
at Oboth | in Water-skins |
H88-02 |
Numbers 33:44 | מֵ/אֹבֹ֑ת | meovot | HR/Np |
from Oboth | from Oboth |